Alexander Ball was never the Governor (2)

I refer to the article about Sir Alexander Ball (October 19). While I agree fully that due honour and respect are to be bestowed to this British citizen, the title of the article is completely wrong and misleading.

Sir Alexander Ball never occupied the seat of British Governor of Malta. When he was in Malta between 1798 and 1801, and between 1802 and 1809, his official position and grade was that of Civil Commissioner and not Governor. The same applies to Major-General Henry Pigot in 1801, Sir Charles Cameron 1801 to 1802, and Lt. General Hildebrand Oakes 1810 and 1813. It is interesting to record that between the death of Sir Alexander on October 25, 1809 and the appointment of Lt. General Oakes in May 1810, the civil administration of the island was jointly in the hands of Mr Chapman, treasurer of state and Mr Liang, public secretary.

For the sake of correctness, the fist British Governor of Malta was Lt. General Sir Thomas Maitland, who took office in 1813 at the time of the Paris Treaty when Malta was officially declared as being under the British rule.